Car coupler



June 16, 1925. 1,542,305

w, KELSO CAR COUPLER Filed Nov. 4, 1924 v 2 Sh eets-Shept 1 June 16,1925. 1,542,305

w. KELSQ GAR COUPLER Filed Nov. 4, 1924 2 Sheets-8 11am 2 Patented June16, 1925.

vrILIlIAavLKntso, onrrr 'rsnnneieg massa e- 51%, ass eseem lm iirbcow A?'&TORLEY' ooMrANY, on IE PENNSYLVANIA.

' Tall'whoa'nit'may concern 'Be it known that I, WILLIAM Knnso, acitizenof the-United States, residing at'Pittsburgh, in the county ofAllegheny and State "of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful ln'iprovements in Cal-Couplers; andI'do hereby declare thefollowing to be a fulh-elear, and'enaot description :of the in vention,such as Wlll enable othersskilled 1n the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. i

My invention relates to 7 can couplers and more particularly to thelocking mechanism whereby thejknuckle of the coupler is normallyrestrained from performing an unlocking rotation. r

The'prin cipal'object of the invention'is 'to provide simple andefficiently operating and easily assembled mechanism for operatmg thecoupler lock and'for preventing it from accidentally moving to anunlocked position. J

A primary'featnre ofthe invention consists in pivotally'mounting uponthe con. pler look a device adaptedto prevent the latterfrom'accidentally moving to unlocked position, andin combining: therewith anuncoupling member which is: provided with an elongated openingthrough'which a portion of the lock extends, the said lock and the"device movably mounted thereon being adapt cd'to' interlock with theuncoupling member when the latteris in assembled position, and the saiduncoupling member being capableoi' being disassembled'from the look onlyafter it has been brought to'a position not normal to its operation.

i A further and more specific feature of the invention consists informing thelock of a 40 'car coupler with a lug which projects 'downwardly throughan opening in the coupler headj'pivotally mounting uponsaid lug'below said head a device'for preventing the 7 look fromaccidentally fniovingf to unlocked position, and combining "therewith anmcoupling member adapted toactuate said pivotally mounted devibeandsubsequently causing an unlockingmovement of the lock, the saiduncouplingmember having apertion extending between'spaced lugsfone-qfsaid lugs being upon the pivoted device and being adapted to" beei'iga'ged by the uncouplin'g' member, and the other, lug beingcarnsYLv-Anm. a semen-Anon oi:

clan/COUPLE Application filed November 4, 1924; Serial No. 747,810.

nish' support for the uncoupling member.

'Other features of" the invention, residing in F advantageous structuralforms and particular relations of parts will hereinafter appear 'and bepointed outin the claims. In the drawings illustrating the invention,' fJ a F lgure'l is a'transverse sectional view of can coupler embodyingthe invention, a P rtion of the uncoupling member for actuating "thelocking mechanism being broken away and the parts being in lockedposition.

'Figure 2 is a detail view corresponding't'o Fig. 1, but illustratingtherelative .positions' of' the parts'whenthe-lock has been freed hem thecontrol of the lOck-to-thedOck device. 5 V i :Figure' 3 isaldetail viewin side elevation of a .portionof the locking mechanism, the relation ofthe uncoupling mechanism thereto being indicated in dotted lines.

"Figure 4 isa detail view corresponding to Fig; 3, but showing thisportion of the mechzanism' in rear elevation. a L

-Fig'ure5' i.s"a"detail sectional'view on the 1 Figure 6 is avlew'corresponding to' Fig. 1,

but illustrating amodified form ofthe invention. y

' fFigure'F isfa detail view of a portion'of the construction shown inFig. 6,"but-illustrati'ng the locloto-thedock member as having beenactuated toLpermit'thelockto perform annn'locking?movement.

"Figure Sis a detail view in si'deelevation showing-a portion of themodified' formof "locking mec ianism.

FigurejQ' is a'view in rearelevation of the parts shown in'Fig; 8. r

F-igurelOiis'a sectional view-on theline ioeio, Fig. 7.

'TheYc'oup1er' is of" the well known Master Car Builders type havingahead upon which is pivotally mounted "a "knuckle '2. Outward rotation of"the knuckle is normally prevented by a "lock '3 which, in thepreseiiti'nstance, is shown as being adapted to 'act'uatea bell crankknuckle opener 4 housed 1 within the coupler head. 7

As'sh'own'in Figs. 1 to5, inclusive, the lock 3 is provided with a leg 5which extends downwardly through. i an opening 6 ri'ed by the lock andbeing adapted to fur in the under side of the coupler head. Pivotallymounted upon the lock leg 5 is a member 7, or lock-to-the-lock device,which cooperates with the coupler head to prevent the look 3 fromaccidentally moving to unlocked position. For the purpose of pivot-"serving as a pivot. At itsupper end the member 7 is preferably steppedso as to provide a shoulder 10 adapted to stand beneath a portion 11 ofthe coupler head and thuslock the lock 8 against. an accidentalunlocking movement. ,The portion 12 of the member 7 which is above theshoulder 10 and projects into the opening 6 in the coupler head, serves,by engaging the said head, to limit the extent of swinging movement ofthe lock-to-the-lock device 7 away from the lock 3. Pivotal movement ofthe member 7 in the opposite direction may conveniently be limitedbyforming the leg 5 of the lock with a face or shoulder 13 with whichsaid member 7 .is adapted to contact at the end of its lock releasingmovement. At one side and somewhat above its pivotal point 9 the member7 is preferably fashioned with oppositely extending lugs 14 which areadapted to be engaged by the uncoupling member 15 when the inner end ofthe latter moves upwardly in the performance of an uncoupling operation.By this construction the initial movement of the uncoupling memberresults in causing the shoulder 10 of the pivoted member to be withdrawnfrom beneath the cooperating portion 11 of the coupler head, asillustrated in Fig. 2. v

Below the pivotal point of the lock-tothe-lock device 7 the lock leg'5may advantageously be provided with a plurality of oppositely extendinglugs 16 furnishing support for the inner end of the uncoupling member 15when the latter' is in normal position corresponding to the lockedrelation of the coupler parts. The, portion of the lock leg 5 which isimmediately above the supporting lugs 16. is somewhat reduced in sizeand preferably is of c ylindrical form; and the inner end of theuncoupling member 15 is provided with an elongated opening or eye 17 forreceiving and interlocking with this portion of the locking mechanism.The elongated form of the eye 17 permits the lugs 16 at the lower end ofthe lock leg 5' to pass therethrough when the uncoupling member isturned at right angles to its normal assembled position, but as shown in1 Figs. 8 and 5, thelugs 16 support the inner end of the uncouplinglever and retain it in assembled relation "to the look when the partsare 1n normal position.

member The modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6to 10, inclusive,

differs from the construction heretofore described only in respect todetails of the depending lock leg and the lock-to-the-lock memberpivotally mounted thereon. In this form the downwardly extending leg 18of the lock 3,instead of being provided with two oppositely extendinglugs 16 for the support of the uncoupling member 15, is provided withonly one such lug, the other being in effect provided by a lug 19 formedon the lock-to-the-lock member a 20. The upper surface of the lug 19 ispreferably beveled so as to permit the member 20 to pivot readily whenthe weight of the uncoupling member rests thereon. The member 20 isprovided with an integrally attached trunnion or pintle 21 whichenters acorresponding pivot opening 22 in the lock'leg 18 and thereby forms apivotal mounting for the lock-to-the-lock device. of constructionillustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 are substantially identical in form tothose heretofore described and they have accord- Other features inglybeen indicated by corresponding ref- 9 until its locking shoulder 10 hasbeen with drawn from beneath the cooperating shoulder 11 of the couplerhead. Further upward movement of the inner end of the un coupling member15 then causes the lock to perform an unlocking operation. hen the lock3 drops to unlocked position the lockto -the-lock member automaticallyswings to locked position under the influence of gravity, its shoulder10 assuming a position beneath the cooperating portion 11 of the couplerhead. In this position of the parts the inner end of the uncouplingmember .15 is lUO supported upon the lugs 16 of the locking mechanism. v

The OPQI'MHOIT of the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 6 to10, inclusive, is the same as that just described except that the returnof the lock-to-the-lock member 20 to locked position and its reten tionin such positionarc assisted by the im position of the weight 'of theunroupling 15 upon the lug 19 with which said member 20 is provided.

I claim 1. A car coupler having a head, a knuckle, a lock for saidknuckle, a device for preventing said look from accidentally moving tounlocked position, and means for actuating said device to permit saidlock to move to unlocked position, said means being adapted to efiect anunlocking movement of said lock tlrifoi'igh the intermediacy of saiddevicef"and' b'eir'ig s'upported' 'by said look when thelatterrisinlocked position, said device bei'ng'pivota lly mounted on said lockbeneath said head and having shoulder adapted to eii'gagea'portionbl?saidhead to IJrevent accidental unlocking orsaid lock, and said devicealso being provided with a lug adapted to be"eng"age'd by said means tocause" said" device to execute pivotal moveineiitwith' respect to saidlock, said lug servingr a)! limit upward movement of "said means withrespect" to said lock.

2; Acar'coupler-having a head, aknuckle, a" lock fcr'said knuckle, adevice 'pivotally' mounc'edi on said lock and adaptedto en'- gage'saidhead to: prevent" said look from accidentally moving to" unlockedposition, and means for "'act'uating'said device to permit said I lockto move :to unlockedposition,

mounted on said lock and adapted to prevent the latter from accidentallymoving to unlocked position, andmeans for actuating saiddevice and saidlock, said means having a portion embracing said lock and said devicemovably mounted thereon.

4:. A car coupler having a head, a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle, adevice movably mounted on said'lock and adapted to prevent the latterfrom accidentally moving to unlocked position, and means for actuatingsaid device and said lock, said means being provided at one end with anelongatediopening through which a portion of said lock extends, and saidlock and said device movably mounted thereon being adapted to interlockwith said means whenthe latter is in assembled position. i

5. A. car coupler having a head, a knuckle, a lock for said knuckle,said lock being movable to locked position under the influence ofgravity and having a leg projecting downwardly through an opening insaid head, a device pivotally connected to said leg below said head andadapted to prevent said lock from accidentally moving to unlockedposition, and an uncoupling member adapted to effect a pivotal movementof said device with respect to said lock and a subse quent unlockingmovement of said lock, said uncoupling member being operativelyinterposed between spaced lugs, one of said lugs being upon said pivoteddevice and" being adapted t'obe engaged" by said uncoupling member, andthe other lug being upon said leg of the'lock and beingadapted tosupport said uncoupling; member.- i

A car'cou'pler having, a liead, knuckle, a lock for said. knuckle havinga leg pro= jectin'gfdownwardly through an opening in the" coupler head,a device pivotally mounted onsaid leg below said head and adapted toengage, said head to prevent said lock 7 from accidentally assuming anunlocked position, and air uncoupling member forsticcessively actuatingsaid device and said lock, said lo ck being arovided" with ashoulderformin'gla stop for limiting pivotal movementof sai'd deviceandiha'vin'g' lug forming a support for sai'd'uncoupling member, andsaid piv'otallymonnted device being pro:- vidd with a: lug 'adaptedtobeengag'edby said-lu'nc'ou pling member "when: tlie latter is a armed-reeffect an unlocking movement of 'tli'e'isaid lock. I i

V '2 1A carcoupler havingahea-d, a knuckle, locl'z'ing means for saidlnuckle; and an uncoupling member for actuating said means,

said uncoupling member being provided with an opening through which saidlocking means extends, said locking means being provided with aplurality of lugs forming a support for said uncoupling member when theparts are in. locked relation, and said locking means and uncouplingmember being adapted to be disassembled only after said uncouplingmember has been caused to assume a position permitting said lugs to passthrough said openin 8. A car coupler having a head, a knuckle, lockingmeans for said knuckle, and an un coupling member for actuating saidmeans,

said uncoupling member being interlockingly connected to said lockingmeans and being provided with an opening through which said meansextends, said locking means being provided with a plurality of lugsspaced. vertically to receive said uncoupling member between them,certain ofi said lugs forming a support for said uncoupling member whenthe parts are in locked relation, and said locking means and uncouplingmember being adapted to be disassembled only after said uncouplingmen'iber has been caused to assume a position permitting said last namedlugs to pass through said opening.

9. A car coupler having a head, a knuckle, a lock for said knucklehaving a leg -pr0 jecting downwardly through an openin in said head,said leg being provided wit a lug adapted supportingly to engage anuncoupling member, a device pivotally connected to said leg above saidlug for preventing said lock from accidentally moving to unlockedposition, and an uncoupling member adapted to actuate said device andsubsequently to actuate said lock through the intermediacy of saiddevice, said device being provided with a lug adapted supportingly toengage said uncoupling member and also being provided with oppositelydisposed lugs constituting means whereby said uncoupling member isadapted to actuate said pivoted device.

10. A car coupler having a head, a knuckle, a lock for said knucklehaving a leg projecting downwardly through an opening in said head, a.member pivotally mounted on said leg and adapted to cooperat with saidhead to prevent said look from accidentally moving to unlocked position,and an uncoupling member for causing the successive operation of saidpivotally mounted member and lock, said uncoupling member being providedwith an opening receiving the lower end of said leg, said leg beingprovided with lug means forming a support for said uncoupling member,andv said pivotally mounted member being provided above itspivotal pointwith lug means adapted to be engaged by said uncoupling member when thelatter performs an uncoupling operation.

11. A car coupler having a head, a knuckle, a lock for said knucklehaving a leg projecting downwardly through an opening in said head, saidleg being provided With a lug adapted to forma support for an uncouplingmember, a member pivotally mounted on said leg and adapted to cooperatewith said head to prevent said lock from accidentally moving to unlockedposition, said pivotally mounted member being adapted to enter said headthrough said opening and being provided above its pivotal point withoppositely extending lugs and also having a lower lug adapted to form asupport for an uncoupling member,

and an uncoupling member having an elongated ey receiving said leg andthe member pivotally mounted thereon, said uncoupling member beingadapted to engage said oppositely extending lugs of said pivoted memberand normally being supportingly engaged by said lug of the lock leg andsaid lower lug of said pivoted member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM KELSO.

